Method of and system for odorized fluid discharge



March 15, 1955 W- M. HAESSLER METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR ODORIZED FLUID DISCHARGE Filed July 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1. 12 L 7 4 /j5 /1 20 A! /K I11 10 INVENTOR. 1444. r51? 4/1 #45551. 15A? QM! Wm March 15, 1955 w. M. HAESSLER 2,704,127

METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR ODORIZED FLUID DISCHARGE Filed July 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W 4 TERM H4555; EA

ATTOENEK United States Patent METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR ODORIZED FLUID DISCHARGE Walter M. Haessler, Chatham, N. J., assignor to C-0-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J.

Application July 15, 1952, Serial No. 299,049

11 Claims. (Cl. 169-11) The present invention relates to a system for and a method of producing an odorized fluid discharge from a jslystdem to warn of the discharge and presence of the A fire extinguishing system utilizing gaseous fluid incapable of supporting life may be discharged into a space occupied by human beings or into which the human beings may later enter. The fire extinguishing agent may be discharged to provide an inert atmosphere for the prevention of fire or to extinguish a fire which has already started. While only a suflicient amount of the extinguishlng agent is discharged to dilute the atmosphere so that combustion will not be supported, by reason of its odorless and colorless nature, it may not be detected and thus may be hazardous to life,

In some prior systems warning whistles or sirens have been incorporated to be actuated by the discharging fire extinguishing fluid. Although an adequate warning is given while the system is discharging, there is no warning to a person later entering the space that the atmosphere thereof Will not support life. Other systems have included means for odorizing the discharge so that a Warning is given after the discharge. Some of these systems have been unsatisfactory as the odorizing medium is stored in containers utilizing valve means to close the odorizer container. In the event the valves do not seal properly, there is a continuous slow leakage. By reason of the non-usage of the fire extinguishing system for several years, the odorizer supply mechanism may become clogged with dirt or become sticky and thus fail to operate to release the odorizing medium with the discharging fire extinguishing fluid.

The present invention aims to overcome the foregoing difiiculties and disadvantages by providing an odorized fluid discharge system including separate storage means for the fluid and-for the odorizing medium, and in which the odorizing medium is sealed. The system is so arranged that upon the; actuation thereof, the entire supply of odorizing medium is discharged into the space at the start of the discharge to immediately warn any occupants therein. This is: advantageous as a concentrated odorized atmosphereis produced before thedischarged fluid has diluted the-air below the amount necessary to support life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for and a method of producing an odorized fluid discharge for warning purposes in which the construction of the system is simple and economical in manufacture, eflicient in operation, and durable in use, and in which the method is simple and reliable.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a system for and a method of producing an odorized fluid discharge from the system. The system includes a hermetically sealed container of odorizing medium, the contents of which are released by the initial discharge of the fluid. In one form of the invention the container of odorizing medium is ruptured directly by the impact of the discharged fluid or by movement of the contaner against a wall by the pressure of the fire extinguishing fluid. In another embodiment of the invention piston means is interposed between the fluid inlet and the frangible container.

The construction in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that the odorizing medium may be hermetically sealed in its container at the place of manu facture. Assurance is had that there will be no leakage or contamination of the highly concentrated fluid. The

2,704,127 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 parts of the system may be readily disassembled as for inspection.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed view at an enlarged scale of the odorizing portion of the system.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 with a portion broken away to reveal the internal construction.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of a modified construction in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a piping system with a container of odorizing fluid in position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a fire extinguishing system 10 adapted to produce an odorized fluid discharge in accordance with the invention. A supply tank 11 may be of the conventional type storing a large quantity of refrigerated carbon dioxide. A fast-opening valve 12 at the top of the tank controls the discharge of the fluid through a distribution pipe line 14 having branch pipes 15 and 16 leading to exposures or spaces 17 and 19. The branch pipes 15 and 16 are respectively fitted with valves 20 and 21. Distribution line 15 has at its outer end a branch pipe 22 supplying discharge heads 24, 25, and 26, while branch line 16 supplies a single discharge head 27. Means to odorize the discharge is preferably positioned in the pipe line 14 ahead of the branch pipe 15 so that the fluid discharge through either of the branch lines will be odorized. Alternatively, the odorizing means 30 might be positioned in either, or both of the lines 15 and 16 after the valves 20 or 21.

The odorizing means 30 may be made using a standard T-connection fitting 31 as a housing, the pipe 14 being cut to provide a space for the fitting 31, the cut ends of the pipe 14 being threaded as indicatedat 32 and 34 to engage with the threaded inner surface of the fitting 31.

A bushing 35 is inserted in upwardly-turned end 36 of the T-fitting 31 and secured in threaded engagement therewith by threads 37. Flattened surfaces 38 are formed on the bushing member 35 for engagement by a wrench to secure the bushing member in position. A passage 39 extends through the bushing 35. The upper end of the bushing member is threaded as indicated at 40 to receive a ring nut 41 having a turned-in end 42 to hold a tubular member 44 in position against the open end of the bushing 35. About the open end of the tubular member 44 is a collar 45 to hold the tubular member 44 in engagement with the turned-in end 42 of the ring nut 41. The tubular member 44 has a closed end 46.

A basket member is made of a diameter to be received within the bushing 35 with ample clearance for free axial movement. The upper end of the basket member 50 is made with a collar 51 adapted to overlie the top end of the bushing and to be received in a recess 52 made in the open end of the tubular member 44 inside the collar 45. The basket member 50 has its bottom made of a screen or perforated member 54 so as to provide fluid connection from the bushing upwardly, yet providing a support for a frangible container adapted to store any conventional odorizer medium such as oil of Wintergreen. The screen 54 may be secured in position by turning in the lower edge of the basket member 50 and welding the screen to the turned-in edge.

The frangible container 60 may be made of glass or other suitable material to hermetically seal the odorizing medium therein, and is preferably made in the ampouletype construction with a sealed glass filling tip 61. Alternative constructions may be used such as a frangible container in which the lower portion may be made of frangible material such as glass with a metallic cap closure member secured to the bottom portion thereof in any suitable manner, as by threaded engagement therewith, gasket means being provided to prevent leakage of the stored odorizing medium.

Any suitable odorizing medium may be used in the frangible container. An effective medium for odorizing carbon dioxide, as for use in fire extinguishing systems, is 50% methyl salicylate (oil of Wintergreen) and 50% methanol, 20% cc. being sutficient to odorize a space of about 20,000 cubic feet. The methanol is used to lower the freezing point of the odorizing agent.

As stated .above, the diameter of the frangible container 60 is preferably slightly less than the internal diameter of the basket 50, suflicient clearance being provided so that there is no chance of the frangible container 60 sticking in position. The length of the frangible container 60 is preferably approximately three times its diameter, while the clearance space between the tip 61 of the frangible container 60 and the closed end 46 f the tubular member 44 is approximately equal to the length of the container 60.

In providing the fluid discharge, the valve 12 is opened allowing the fire extinguishing fluid to suddenly discharge and pass through the pipe 14, through the opening 39 of the bushing member 35, and through the screen or perforated member 54 to impact against the bottom of the frangible member 60 which is either directly ruptured by the impact of the pressure fluid, or alternatively. driven upwardly so that the tip 61 contacts the closed end 46 of the tubular member 44. The shock of the contact with the closed end 46 causes the rupture of the frangible member 60 if it already has not been ruptured by the first impact of the discharging fluid medium.

The odorizing medium released from the frangible container 60 runs downwardly and passes through the strainer or perforated member 54 to mix with the fire extinguishing fluid passing through the pipe 14 and is discharged therewith into one of the spaces 17 or 19, depending upon whether valve 20 or 21 has been actuated. The strainer 54 retains the fragments of the container 60 so that there is no chance of the fragments clogging orifices in the discharge heads 2427. The basket 50 may be easily cleaned of the fragments at such time as a replacement frangible container 60 is placed in position.

It is preferred to use a fast opening valve on the piping system so that there is a sudden discharge of the fluid to produce an impact force on the frangible container.

In Figure 4 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figures l3 with the addition of 100. The embodiment shown in Figure 4 differs primarily from the first embodiment in that the ring nut 41 and tubular member 44 (of Figures l-3) are made of one-piece construction as shown in Figure 4 and indicated as 141. Further, a piston member 170 is positioned under the ampoule 160 in the basket member 150. The piston member 170 may be solid and perforated as indicated at 171 to allow the drainage therethrough of the odorizing medium from the ampoule 160 after the ampoule has been ruptured as previously described. Alternatively, the piston member 170 may be made of layers of screen material or other porous material. This construction may be used in the event the ampoule member 160 is made with a diameter too small with respect to the inside diameter of the piston member for effective operation.

In Figure another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figures 1-3 with the addition of 200, includinga T fitting 271 and which has attached a short section of pipe 272 closed by a cap 273. The odorized fluid is discharged through upper leg 274 of the T fitting 271. In this modification it is preferable that the cap 273 be permanently attached to the pipe 272 so that both parts may be removed to insert the container 260 along the straight portion of the pipe 270 towards the elbow 214. Upon a discharge of fluid through the piping system leading to the elbow 214 and the pipe 270, the container 260 is driven forward and impacted against the cap 273 to become ruptured and release the odorizing medium stored therein which is then intermingled with the fluid discharge for the odorization thereof. Broken parts of the container 260 remain in the short pipe 272 and are easily removed when a new container 260 is placed in position.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments will be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention as set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fluid to an outlet, release means to discharge the stored fluid into the piping system, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the piping system for rupture by the force of the discharging fluid to release the odorizing medium with the fluid through the outlet.

2. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fluid to an outlet, release means to discharge the stored fluid into the piping system, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the piping system, the piping system having a space beyond the frangible container at least partially obstructed by the frangible container, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid through the outlet.

3. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fluid to an outlet, release means to discharge the stored fluid into the piping system, a frangible container storing an odorizing medium, and means forming a chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with the piping system, the frangible container positioned in the chamber at least partially obstructing the inlet, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid through the outlet.

4. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fluid to an outlet, release means to discharge the stored fluid into the piping system, a T-pipe fitting interposed in the piping with one opening turned upwardly, a closed end tubular member having an open end turned downwardly secured in the opening in the pipe fitting in fluid communication with the fluid passage therethrough, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the tubular member and at least partially obstructing the open end thereof, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid.

5. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fluid to an outlet, release means to discharge the stored fluid into the piping system, a T-pipe fitting interposed in the piping with one opening turned upwardly, a closed end tubular member having an open end turned downwardly secured in the opening in the pipe fitting in fluid communication with the fluid passage therethrough, a strainer across the open end, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the tubular member above the strainer and at least partially obstructing the open end thereof, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid, the fragments of the container being retained by the screen.

6. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fluid to an outlet, release means to discharge the stored fluid into the piping system, means forming a chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with the piping system, a piston member at least partially closing the inlet to the chamber, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the chamber with the piston member interposed between the frangible container and the inlet, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid through the outlet.

7. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage means for the fluid, a piping system to convey the fiuid to an outlet, release means to discharge the fluid into the piping system, a T-pipe fitting interposed in the piping system with one opening turned upwardly, a closed end tubular member having an open end turned downwardly secured in the opening in the pipe fitting in fluid communication with the fluid passage therethrough, a piston member at least partially closing the inlet to the tubular member, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the tubular member with the piston member interposed between the frangible container and the open end of the tubular member, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid.

8. An odorizer for a fluid dispensing system including a piping system and stored fluid to be discharged therethrough, the odorizer comprising a fitting to be interposed in the piping system, a tubular member having a closed end and an open end forming an inlet, the open end turned downwardly and secured in the fitting in fluid communication with the passage therethrough, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the tubular member and at least partially obstructing the inlet thereto, the container of shorter length and of lesser diameter than the interior of the tubular member so as to be freely movable therein, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid.

9. An odorizer for a fluid dispensing system including a piping system and stored fluid to be discharged therethrough, the odorizer comprising a fitting to be interposed in the piping system, a tubular member having a closed end and an open end forming an inlet, the open end turned downwardly and secured in the fitting in fluid communication with the passage therethrough, a piston member positioned in the tubular member and at least partially obstructing the inlet, and a frangible container storing an odorizing medium positioned in the tubular member with the piston member interposed between the frangible container and the inlet, the frangible container of shorter length and of lesser diameter than the interior of the tubular member so as to be freely movable therein, whereby upon the discharge of the fluid the frangible container is ruptured to release the odorizing medium with the fluid.

10. The method of odorizing a fluid discharged through a piping system comprising introducing an odorizing medium sealed in a frangible container into the piping system, suddenly discharging the fluid through the piping system, and impacting the frangible container against the inner surface of the piping system by the force of the discharged fluid thereby rupturing the frangible container to release the odorizing medium into the fluid for discharge therewith.

11. The method of odorizing a fluid discharged through a piping system having a closed end section extending therefrom comprising introducing an odorizing medium sealed in a frangible container into the piping system, suddenly discharging the fluid through the piping system, and impacting the frangible container against the inner surface of the closed end section of the piping by the force of the discharged fluid thereby rupturing the frangible container releasing the odorizing medium into the fluid for discharge therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,586,809 Freygang Feb. 26, 1952 

